Acceptance Remarks

I am honored to be awarded the Hugh Durbin Leadership Service Award.

I have been a librarian for over 20 years and I have experienced many changes that have taken place in those 20 years. We have gone from having a paper card catalog and typewriter to OPACs and computers. The library, which once was the quiet place of the school, is now the hub of student activity. Students in the library are working on a variety of projects using various resources throughout the day. The students working or research projects know that the “first stop research spot” is INFOhio. 

INFOhio is promoted by all of the teachers in the building. I make sure that I get on the agenda for the new teacher training and for our building teacher’s meeting the first week of school. It is during this time that INFOhio is introduced or reintroduced to the staff. Many of us are in the same situation. We are the only certified librarian in the District and we are the High School with paraprofessionals in the other schools. To make myself visible I contact the principals of the other buildings and set up a time to present INFOhio and other library services to their buildings.

In this age of accountability we need to make our presence known and demonstrate to our administrators that librarians are a necessity for student success.  Much of my time is spent collaborating with teachers in my building, working together planning student research projects and the strategies that will be used to accomplish them. With three computer labs attached directly to the library, students are constantly moving between the resources in each area.

This award is not only for me but it is for all the teachers I work with who use INFOhio on a regular basis. Again, thank you for granting me this award.